Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Day 4 of Week 6. This is the 39th Day in our Count to Pentecost.

The ancient Israelites demonstrated over and over their habit of negative thinking. Analyzing their words and behaviors, we find one of the patterns they displayed was what we now call “all or nothing thinking,” meaning we see things as either “good or bad,” or “black or white.” In this kind of thinking, there is no room for anything in between. Some people describe it as being in one ditch or the other.

It’s a really easy pattern for many people to use. It’s just part of natural, carnal, human nature. And, even as Believers today, we can slip into this carnal thinking.

The pattern is easy to see in ancient Israel. It is most clear to discern when the ancient Israelites needed something. They were quite demanding. Their words and their behaviors were much like the tantrums of a toddler. They either wanted everything provided for them immediately, or they flipped completely into foolish, threatening behaviors like going back to Egypt or stoning their leaders, Moses and Aaron.

Because this pattern is so common in our culture today, even true Believers need to be on guard.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6), but we are the bondservants of our God and Savior. They made us; They paid for us; They delivered us from death; They work with us constantly; They pour out Their love and blessings on us.

Believers have to be transformed in our thinking and in our behaviors.

Romans 12:1-2 (1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Let us adopt the mindset that whatever the circumstances are that God creates and allows into our lives are POSITIVE and play an important part in His plan to bring us to glory with Him forever.

Let nothing sway us into foolish and negative thinking, because negative thinking leads to sin.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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